Students shadow employees for real-life work experience

DALTON, Ga. -- John Hooie already is taking an architecture class, but after spending a day at Carlson-Jones Architects, he knows what an architect's workday really is like.

"I learned there's a lot more than just designing a building," he said. "You have to go through building codes ... you have to be on the construction site a lot more than I thought you'd have to be."

Mr. Hooie and about 50 other sophomore students from Dalton High School participated Tuesday in National Job Shadow Day. About 119 students from the Whitfield Career Academy also were out job shadowing, school officials said.

"It is part of the career development plan at Dalton High for students to be able to experience what it's like to be in particular positions," said Barbara Ward, coordinator of the school's work-based learning program.

Jennifer Phinney, vice principal at Whitfield Career Academy, said the goal of Job Shadow Day is to have students explore a field they're interested in as a possible career.

"We feel like the more real experiences that kids have with this, the better prepared they are as far as making decisions regarding their own future," said Ms. Phinney.

That includes learning the importance of continuing their education once they learn what's required for the field, she said.

Some may decide against the career after their day at work, but either way they "leave with some idea of what a real work force looks like, what a job looks like," said Ms. Phinney.

For Whitfield Career Academy juniors Coleman Jenkins, Cody Ruddell and Lee Coker, Tuesday was a chance to learn even more about a career they're planning to pursue.

All three said they already participate in the Dalton Fire Department Explorer Post 404, a training program for youth interested in becoming firefighters. They spent Tuesday at Whitfield County Fire Department Station 1 to learn more about how the county department operates.

They said firefighters must be physically fit, mentally strong and have at least a high school education.

"We all plan on going to college and taking some fire science and EMT (emergency medical technician) training," said Mr. Ruddell.

"To become a chief you have got to have at least a degree in college," said Mr. Jenkins.

HOW IT WORKS

Students decide what career they'd like to job shadow and work with school counselors to set it up. The program is open to sophomores at Dalton High School and grades nine through 12 at Whitfield Career Academy. Students are required to complete specific tasks to participate, such as reflecting on their day at work when they return to school and having workplace sponsors return a form commenting on how the student's day went.

Source: School officials

CAREERS SHADOWED

* Doctor/other medical professions

* Church youth director

* Architect

* School teacher

* Grocery store cashier

* Electrician

* Lawyer

* Carpet industry executive

* Firefighter

* Law enforcement

Source: School officials